COLONEL JERVISasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the attention of the War Department has been called to the following passage of a Report by Sir John Coode, C.E., dated May 26th, 1874, to the Board of Trade, respecting Landguard Common:—
With respect to the danger to be apprehended from the encroachments of the sea, if the eastern and western foreshores of Landguard Common he not protected by means of such works as I have recommended, there would be reason to apprehend that on the first occurrence of unusually high tides, accompanied by strong gales from any point between S.E. ("by South) to S.W., further and much more considerable damage would be done, and it would be far from improbable; that a second channel might he cut through from the German Ocean to Harwich Harbour, isolating Landguard Fort, the lighthouse, and works at the point, a state of things which I need scarcely say would prove seriously detrimental to all interests concerned;and, whether he is aware that it is proposed to close up Walton Creek adjoining the said common, and that the Harwich Harbour Conservancy Board have drawn the attention of the War Department to the probability that the closing of such creek before the War Department has been enabled to carry out the work necessary for the duo protection of Landguard Common, would most probably cause that very disaster pointed out by Sir John Coode; and, if so, what steps have been taken in the matter by the War Department?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, the attention of the War Department had been called to the passage in a Report by Sir John Coode, alluded to 143 in the Question; they were also aware that it was proposed to close up Walton Creek, adjoining Landguard Common, and had called the attention of the Board of Trade to the proposal. The War Department had ascertained from the Board of Trade that they were willing to carry out the project of Sir John Coode. Action, however, was deferred, pending the acquisition by the War Department of the land on which the works would have to be carried out, and in respect of which a notice under the Defence Act had been served on the lord of the manor. It should be observed that, although the War Department was concerned in the matter so far as related to the preservation of the ground occupied by Land-guard Fort, the question of preventing the formation of a channel through the Landguard Peninsula from Harwich Harbour to the sea was one for the Board of Trade to deal with in communication with the Harwich Harbour Conservancy Board.